U.S. patent application number 17/638945 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-15 for fuel trading coordination device and fuel trading coordination system.
The applicant listed for this patent is HITACHI, LTD.. Invention is credited to Hiroaki HASEGAWA, Hiroto NAITO, Yuzo SHIRAKAWA.
Application Number | 20220292582 17/638945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006389488 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220292582 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAITO; Hiroto ; et
al. |
September 15, 2022 |
FUEL TRADING COORDINATION DEVICE AND FUEL TRADING COORDINATION
SYSTEM
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a fuel trading coordination
technique that enables certification processes taking account of a
supply chain for a fuel, such as hydrogen, and that meets fuel
users' demands while ensuring their convenience. A fuel trading
coordination device according to the present disclosure includes a
storage device storing information of a plurality of fuel
suppliers, and a controller that processes an order for purchasing
a mix of a first type fuel and a second type fuel, the order being
placed by a first type fuel user. The first type fuel and the
second type fuel are fuels that are different in production method
but can be used for the same purpose. The controller sends
information of the order of the first type fuel user to a first
supplier that supplies the first type fuel and to a second supplier
that supplies the second type fuel.
Inventors: |
NAITO; Hiroto; (Tokyo,
JP) ; SHIRAKAWA; Yuzo; (Tokyo, JP) ; HASEGAWA;
Hiroaki; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HITACHI, LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006389488 |
Appl. No.: |
17/638945 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
March 27, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2020/013928 |
371 Date: |
February 28, 2022 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 50/06 20130101;
G06Q 30/0635 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06; G06Q 50/06 20060101 G06Q050/06 |
Claims
1. A fuel trading coordination device comprising: a storage device
storing information of a plurality of fuel suppliers; and a
controller that processes an order for purchasing a mix of a first
type fuel and a second type fuel, the order being placed by a first
type fuel user, wherein the first type fuel and the second type
fuel are fuels that are different in production method but can be
used for the same purpose, and wherein the controller sends
information of the order of the first type fuel user to a first
supplier that supplies the first type fuel and to a second supplier
that supplies the second type fuel.
2. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 1,
wherein the controller sends a payment based on an amount of supply
of the first type fuel, the amount of supply corresponding to the
order, to the first supplier, and instructs the first supplier to
supply the first type fuel in an amount corresponding to a total
amount of fuel that is a sum of the first type fuel and the second
type fuel in the order.
3. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 2,
wherein the controller instructs the second supplier to issue a
certificate certifying that the second supplier has supplied the
second type fuel.
4. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 3,
wherein the controller sends data of the certificate to a terminal
device of the first type fuel user who has placed the order.
5. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 1,
wherein the controller processes orders from users of various types
of hydrogen, and stores information on past orders from a plurality
of first type fuel users and on past orders from a plurality of
second type fuel users, in the storage device.
6. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 1,
wherein the storage device stores information on the plurality of
fuel suppliers, the information including information of a
production method for a fuel, a production capacity for the fuel,
and a form of transportation of the fuel, information of a CO.sub.2
emission intensity of the fuel, information of a sales price of the
fuel, information of a shipment volume, and information of a
shipment time.
7. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 6,
wherein when the order is of a form of intending to reduce a
CO.sub.2 emission intensity value to a desired value, the
controller calculates an order amount of the first type fuel and an
order amount of the second type fuel, based on the desired CO.sub.2
emission intensity value, and sends information of the order
including information of the order amounts, to the first supplier
and to the second supplier.
8. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 6,
wherein when the order is of a form of specifying a purchase amount
of each type of fuel, the controller sends information of the order
including information on a purchase amount of the first type fuel
and a purchase amount of the second type fuel, to the first
supplier and to the second supplier.
9. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 6,
wherein the controller checks an amount of the second type fuel
based on the order against information of the shipment volumes and
the shipment times of the plurality of hydrogen suppliers,
determines whether hydrogen can be shipped out to meet the order,
and when hydrogen cannot be shipped out, sends a notice of meeting
the order being impossible, to the terminal device of the first
type fuel user having placed the order.
10. The fuel trading coordination device according to claim 1,
wherein the first type fuel is Gray hydrogen and the second type
fuel is Green hydrogen.
11. A fuel trading coordination system comprising: the fuel trading
coordination device according to claim 1; terminal devices of a
plurality of fuel suppliers; and terminal devices of a plurality of
fuel users, wherein the fuel trading coordination device, the
terminal devices of the plurality of fuel suppliers, and the
terminal devices of the plurality of fuel users are connected via a
network to allow mutual communication.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel trading
coordination device and a fuel trading coordination system.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There are various types of fuels, among which hydrogen is a
fuel receiving a lot of attention. Hydrogen can be produced from
various energy sources, and the cost, amount, and
energy-policy-related significance of hydrogen vary, depending on
production methods.
[0003] Besides, the current situation concerning a hydrogen supply
chain involves a mix of various techniques for hydrogen
manufacturing methods and hydrogen storage/transport methods. A
process of standardizing a variety of techniques is now in
progress, but is still at its organizing stage and a concrete
result is yet to be achieved.
[0004] If a hydrogen supply chain is established in the future, the
user would see hydrogen, the final product, as just hydrogen
whatever a manufacturing method for hydrogen may be. However, the
type of a supply chain route through which hydrogen has been
distributed greatly affects the environmental value and economic
value of hydrogen. It will be necessary in the future, therefore,
that the environmental value (CO.sub.2 emission in production,
transportation, and the like) and economic value
(production/transportation costs, and the like) of hydrogen be
evaluated, and a hydrogen trading market be established based on
the evaluation.
[0005] In this connection, a certification project have already
been launched in Europe in efforts for establishing a hydrogen
trading market. In this project, the environmental value of
hydrogen is defined in three categories, that is, Green hydrogen,
Low Carbon hydrogen, and Gray hydrogen, based on CO.sub.2 emission
intensity. Gray hydrogen is, for example, natural gas reformed
hydrogen, which is produced from a fossil fuel as a raw material.
Its CO.sub.2 emission intensity is therefore high, because of which
its environmental value is evaluated to be low. Green hydrogen
(e.g., hydrogen produced by electrolyzing water using electricity
generated by renewable power generation, such as wind power
generation or solar power generation) and Low Carbon hydrogen
(e.g., hydrogen produced by electrolyzing water using electricity
from power generation systems), on the other hand, show low
CO.sub.2 emission intensity, and are therefore evaluated to be low
in environmental value.
[0006] These types of hydrogen, however, require higher
equipment/production costs and therefore tend to be more expensive
than Gary hydrogen.
CITATION LIST
Non-Patent Literature
[0007] NPL 1: "Production, Transportation, and Storage of Hydrogen"
Natural Resources and Energy Agency, Fuel Cell Promotion Dept.,
Apr. 14, 2014
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0008] However, the European project does not involve a discussion
on the hydrogen supply chain. It is therefore necessary for the
hydrogen user to properly evaluate and certify the value of
hydrogen including transportation means used.
[0009] Besides, the European project focuses on certification of
hydrogen producers, which has created a situation where a
possibility of an illegal act by a hydrogen producer having been
certified, such as selling Gary hydrogen disguised as Green
hydrogen, cannot be denied.
[0010] Furthermore, from the hydrogen user's perspective, the
European project has other issues to clear. For example, when the
hydrogen user currently purchases only Green hydrogen due to
problems with storage facilities, etc., the hydrogen user has no
option but to purchase hydrogen from a Green hydrogen producer. In
such a case, the European project fails to meet the hydrogen user's
demand for purchasing a mix of Green hydrogen and Gary hydrogen in
consideration of an economic value added. In the current situation,
the project also fails to meet the hydrogen user's another demand
that the user's contribution to the environment be made even if the
economic value added is lowered (even if the cost of hydrogen
rises). Leaving such a situation as it is will lead to a failure in
ensuring convenience of the hydrogen user and in providing support
to corporate efforts for making contributions to the
environment.
[0011] The present disclosure provides a technique that has been
conceived in view of the above circumstances, the technique being a
fuel trading coordination technique that enables certification
processes taking account of a supply chain for a fuel, such as
hydrogen, and that meets fuel users' demands while ensuring their
convenience.
Solution to Problem
[0012] In order to solve the above problem, the present disclosure
provides a fuel trading coordination device including: a storage
device that stores information of a plurality of fuel suppliers;
and a controller that processes an order for purchasing a mix of a
first type fuel and a second type fuel, the order being placed by a
first type fuel user. In the fuel trading coordination device, the
first type fuel and the second type fuel are fuels that are
different in production method but can be used for the same
purpose, and the controller transmits information of the order of
the first type fuel user to a first supplier that supplies the
first type fuel and to a second supplier that supplies the second
type fuel.
[0013] Other features related to the present disclosure will be
made clear from the descriptive contents of this specification and
the accompanying drawings. Aspects of the present disclosure are
achieved by elements, various combinations of elements, detailed
descriptions below, and appended claims.
[0014] It should be understood that the description herein is
merely exemplary and that the description does not limit the scope
of the claims or applications of the present disclosure by any
means.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0015] The fuel trading coordination technique of the present
disclosure enables certification processes taking account of a fuel
supply chain and meets fuel users' demands while ensuring their
convenience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic configuration example of a
hydrogen trading coordination system 10 according to an
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts a configuration example of hydrogen
management information 200 held (managed) in a storage device (not
illustrated) of a hydrogen trading coordination device 100.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the details of a
hydrogen trading coordination process executed by the hydrogen
trading coordination system 10.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described
with reference to the drawings. In the accompanying drawings,
elements that are functionally the same may be denoted by the same
numbers. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings, which
illustrate specific embodiments and implementation examples
conforming to the principles of the present disclosure, are for
understanding of the present disclosure and are by no means used
for limited interpretation of the present disclosure.
[0020] While an embodiment of the present disclosure is explained
in detail sufficiently enough to allow those skilled in the art to
implement the present disclosure, the present disclosure may be
implemented also in other forms and modes. It should be noted that
configurations/structures may be changed or various elements may be
replaced without departing from the scope and spirit of the
technical concept of the present disclosure. The following
description, therefore, should not be interpreted as one that
places any form of limitation.
[0021] The following description of the embodiment, when deemed
necessary for convenience, may be made as description of multiple
sections or embodiments. It should be noted, however, that unless
otherwise specified, the sections or embodiments are not unrelated
to each other, and that one section or embodiment is a
modification, detailed description, supplementary, or the like, of
a part or the whole of another section or embodiment. When a
specific number of elements and the like (including a numerical
value, an amount, and a range) is mentioned, the number of elements
is not limited to that specific number of elements, except a case
where the specific number is specified or a case where a logical
principle clearly requires limitation to the specific number, and
may be larger or smaller than the specific number.
[0022] Furthermore, it is obvious that in the following
embodiments, constituent elements (including element steps and the
like) are not necessarily essential unless otherwise specified or
considered to be essential as an obvious conclusion from a logical
principle.
[0023] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented
by software running on a general-purpose computer or by dedicated
hardware or a combination of software and hardware.
[0024] In the following description, pieces of information on the
present disclosure will be described in the form of a "table" (see
FIG. 3). These pieces of information, however, do not necessarily
need to be expressed in a data structure of a table form, and may
be expressed in a data structure of a list, a DB, a queue, etc., or
other data structures. For this reason, to indicate that
information does not depend on the data structure, "table", "list",
"DB", "queue", and the like may be simply referred to as
"information".
[0025] Further, to describe the contents of pieces of information,
such expressions as "identification information", "identifier",
"title", "name", and "ID" can be used, and these expressions can be
replaced with each other.
[0026] In an embodiment to be described below, hydrogen will be
described as an example of a fuel that a fuel trading coordination
system deals with. However, a trading coordination process, which
will be described later, can be applied in the same manner to a
fuel different from hydrogen.
[0027] <Configuration Example of Hydrogen Trading Coordination
System>
[0028] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic configuration example of a
hydrogen trading coordination system 10 according to an embodiment.
The hydrogen trading coordination system 10 allows a hydrogen user,
who usually makes a hydrogen trading with a hydrogen supplier in
the form of a one-to-one deal, to make a hydrogen trading with a
plurality of suppliers without changing facilities the hydrogen
user has.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen trading coordination system
10 includes a hydrogen trading coordination device 100, terminal
devices 101_1 to 101_n (n is any given integer equal to or more
than 2) of a plurality of hydrogen users (hydrogen users A to Z),
and terminal devices 102_1 to 102_n (n is an any given integer
equal to or more than 2) of a plurality of hydrogen suppliers
(hydrogen suppliers A to Z), and these device and terminal devices
are connected to each other via a network 103. The hydrogen trading
coordination device 100, the terminal devices 101_1 to 101_n of the
plurality of hydrogen users, and the terminal devices 102_1 to
102_n of the plurality of hydrogen suppliers can each be composed
of an ordinary computer (which includes a processor (control unit),
a storage device (a memory, an HDD, or the like), a communication
device, an input device (a mouse, a keyboard, and the like), and an
output device (a display device, an audio output device and the
like). The detailed internal configuration of these devices is
therefore not described here.
[0030] As a situation in which the hydrogen trading coordination
system 10 is put into operation, a case is considered where, for
example, a hydrogen user A, who normally purchases 20 m.sup.3 of
Gray hydrogen (production method: natural gas reformation,
transportation method: the form of a compressed hydrogen, CO.sub.2
emission intensity: 1.62 kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2, cost: 10
yen/m.sup.3) from the hydrogen supplier A only, purchases Green
hydrogen (production method: electrolyzation using power from
domestic wind power generators, transportation method: in the form
of liquid hydrogen, CO.sub.2 emission intensity: 0.79
kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2, cost: 20 yen/m.sup.3) from a hydrogen
supplier B, as a part of a Gray hydrogen/Green hydrogen mixture,
thus purchasing a mix of Gray hydrogen of 10 m.sup.3 and Green
hydrogen of 10 m.sup.3. In this case, the hydrogen user A transmits
a trading coordination request from the terminal device 101_1 of
the hydrogen user A to the hydrogen trading coordination device
100. Forms of the trading coordination request include a form of
changing the CO.sub.2 emission intensity, for example, from X to Y
(e.g., from 1.62 kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2 to 1.2
kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2) and a form of directly specifying an
amount of Gray hydrogen and of Green hydrogen (e.g., 10 m.sup.3 of
Gray hydrogen and 10 m.sup.3 of Green hydrogen).
[0031] Upon receiving the trading coordination request from the
hydrogen user A, the hydrogen trading coordination device 100
calculates a trading amount of each type of hydrogen (calculating a
trading amount of each type of hydrogen when a request for changing
the CO.sub.2 emission intensity is made) and a trading price of the
same, and at the same time, transmits order information on an order
for Green hydrogen to at least one of Green hydrogen suppliers
(e.g., the terminal device 102_2 of a supplier B). Upon receiving
the order information, the Green hydrogen supplier (e.g., the
terminal device 102_2 of the supplier B) automatically creates a
Green hydrogen purchase certificate, based on the order
information, (creates the certificate by, for example, entering
necessary information, such as a date, the type of hydrogen, a
trading amount, a purchaser, and a price, in a prescribed
certificate format and attaching signature data or stamp data on
the Green hydrogen supplier to the format), and transmits the Green
hydrogen purchase certificate to the hydrogen trading coordination
device 100.
[0032] In addition to transmitting the order information on the
order for Green hydrogen to at least one of Green hydrogen
suppliers (e.g., the terminal device 102_2 of the supplier B), the
hydrogen trading coordination device 100 transmits also order
information on the hydrogen user A's order (a required amount of
hydrogen: e.g., 20 m.sup.3, an amount of Gray hydrogen after
trading coordination: e.g., 10 m.sup.3, and a price after trading
coordination (actual payment): e.g., 100 yen) to one of the Gray
hydrogen suppliers (e.g., the terminal device 102_1 of the supplier
B from which the hydrogen user A has been purchasing hydrogen). Now
the hydrogen supplier A supplies the hydrogen user A (orderer) with
20 m.sup.3 of Grey hydrogen, but actually receives a payment for 10
m.sup.3 of Grey hydrogen.
[0033] When receiving the order information, the hydrogen supplier
A transports hydrogen (compressed hydrogen) in an amount required
by the hydrogen user A (20 m.sup.3 in the above case) by a physical
transportation means, to a hydrogen storage facility of the
hydrogen user A. After all, this is a transaction in which the
hydrogen user A has purchased 20 m.sup.3 of hydrogen at a higher
price (15 yen/m.sup.3). It is nevertheless an undeniable fact that
the hydrogen user A has succeeded in reducing the CO.sub.2 emission
intensity to 1.21 kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2 (succeeded in
improving the environmental value).
[0034] When the above hydrogen trading coordination is carried out
by the hydrogen trading coordination system 10, a difference (e.g.,
200 yen) between the amount of payment (e.g., 300 yen) from the
hydrogen user (hydrogen user A), who has placed the order for
purchasing a mix of different types of hydrogen, to the hydrogen
trading coordination device 100 and the amount of payment (e.g.,
100 yen) to the hydrogen supplier (hydrogen supplier A) who is the
Gray hydrogen supplier is pooled by the hydrogen trading
coordination device 100. Afterward, when a different hydrogen user
who mainly uses Green hydrogen (e.g., hydrogen user B) places an
order for purchasing Gray hydrogen as a part of a Gray
hydrogen/Green hydrogen mixture for the purpose of improving the
economic value of hydrogen, a required amount of payment is taken
out of the difference resulting from a past trading and is given to
the hydrogen supplier B (Green hydrogen supplier). In this manner,
the final amount of payment to each hydrogen supplier is determined
(adjusted) based on the total amount of hydrogen supply by the
hydrogen supplier. Each hydrogen supplier, therefore, does not
suffer any loss.
[0035] <Management Information in Hydrogen Trading Coordination
Device>
[0036] FIG. 2 depicts a configuration example of hydrogen
management information 200 held (managed) in a storage device (not
illustrated) of the hydrogen trading coordination device 100. FIG.
2 shows an example in which the hydrogen management information 200
is managed in the form of a table. The hydrogen management
information 200, however, may be managed in a non-table form,
providing that pieces of information making up the hydrogen
management information 200 are correlated with each other.
[0037] The hydrogen management information 200 includes pieces of
configuration information on each hydrogen supplier, the pieces of
configuration information being hydrogen type 201, hydrogen
production method 202, hydrogen transportation method 203, CO.sub.2
emission intensity 204, and cost 205.
[0038] Hydrogen type 201 is information indicating types of
hydrogen, such as Gray hydrogen, Low Carbon hydrogen, and Green
hydrogen. In Europe, Green hydrogen and Low Carbon hydrogen are
collectively referred to as premium hydrogen, which is hydrogen
with a CO.sub.2 emission intensity (kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2)
of 36.4 or less. Gray hydrogen is hydrogen with a CO.sub.2 emission
intensity higher than 36.4. Natural gas reformation hydrogen (with
a CO.sub.2 emission intensity of 91) is classified into the Gray
hydrogen category.
[0039] Hydrogen production method 202 is information indicating a
method by which hydrogen is produced (including information on
energy used in the production process). Various hydrogen production
methods are known, which include, for example, a method of
reforming a fossil fuel (petroleum, natural gas, or the like) using
a catalyst or the like, a method of producing hydrogen by
electrolyzing water using electricity generated by systems
utilizing natural energy (solar power, wind power, or the like), a
method of producing hydrogen by purifying a by-product gas, which
is a by-product from steel mills, chemical factories, or the like,
a method of reforming a methanol or methane gas using a catalyst or
the like, the gas being created from biomass, a method of producing
hydrogen using a photocatalyst capable of extracting hydrogen by
itself when exposed to sunlight, and a method of producing hydrogen
through an IS process.
[0040] Hydrogen transportation method 203 is information indicating
a method by which hydrogen is transported from each hydrogen
supplier to each hydrogen user's facility. Various hydrogen
transportation methods are known, which include, for example, a
method of transporting compressed hydrogen by trailer, a method of
transporting liquid hydrogen by trailer, and a method of
transferring compressed hydrogen through a pipeline. A
transportation method is determined according to the form of
hydrogen each hydrogen supplier produces (compressed hydrogen or
liquid hydrogen) or the type of a storage facility of each hydrogen
user.
[0041] CO.sub.2 emission intensity 204 is information indicating an
amount of CO.sub.2 emitted by each hydrogen production method.
CO.sub.2 emission intensity 204 may be calculated as an amount of
CO.sub.2 emission including an amount of CO.sub.2 emitted by a
transportation method.
[0042] Cost 205 is information indicating a production cost (or a
sales price) per 1 m.sup.3. The production cost is the lowest when
a fossil fuel is used, and tends to rise in a case where a power
generation facility or initial investment is expensive or high
(e.g., power generation utilizing natural energy or a
photocatalyst). When a sales price is referred to as the production
cost, the sales price actually includes a transportation cost and a
hydrogen supplier's profit, in addition to the production cost.
[0043] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 may also manage
other kinds of information. It may manage pieces of information on
each hydrogen user (a location, a past purchase history, a storage
facility type, or the like) by saving the information in a storage
device or manage a certificate issued by each hydrogen supplier by
associating the certificate with information of each hydrogen user
and each hydrogen supplier and saving the associated certificate in
the storage device. In response to an incoming certificate issuance
request from the terminal device 101_k (k=1, 2, . . . n) of a
hydrogen user, the hydrogen trading coordination device 100 may
send related certificate data to the terminal device 101_k. Each
hydrogen user having received a certificate, for example, is able
to use the certificate for economic activities, such as CO.sub.2
emission right trading.
[0044] Although not shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen trading
coordination device 100 may further save additional information on
each hydrogen supplier, the additional information being different
from items of information 201 to 205, in the storage device (not
illustrated). The additional information include information on a
hydrogen production capacity (e.g., a production volume per day),
on a hydrogen shipment volume (e.g., shipment volume per day), and
on a hydrogen shipment time.
[0045] <Details of Hydrogen Trading Coordination Process>
[0046] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the details of a
hydrogen trading coordination process executed by the hydrogen
trading coordination system 10. At each of steps shown below, the
processor, i.e., controller (not illustrated) of the hydrogen
trading coordination device 100 mainly works as an operation
subject. In the following description, however, the operation
subject is simply referred to as the hydrogen trading coordination
device 100 (in a case of each terminal device being the operation
subject, the "processor (controller)" is omitted from the
description as in the case of the hydrogen trading coordination
device 100).
[0047] (i) Step 301
[0048] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 receives an
order for purchasing Green hydrogen to be mixed with Gray hydrogen,
the order being placed by a Gray hydrogen user, from the terminal
device 101_k of the Gray hydrogen user. Forms of such an order for
purchasing Green hydrogen to be mixed with Gray hydrogen, as
described above, include a form of changing the CO.sub.2 emission
intensity, for example, from X to Y (e.g., from 1.62
kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2 to 1.2 kg-CO.sub.2/Nm.sup.3-H.sub.2)
and a form of directly specifying an amount of Gray hydrogen and of
Green hydrogen (e.g., 10 m.sup.3 of Gray hydrogen and 10 m.sup.3 of
Green hydrogen).
[0049] (ii) Step 302
[0050] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 calculates a
purchase price, based on the order received at step 301.
Specifically, the hydrogen trading coordination device 100 acquires
information of a regular hydrogen supplier from which the Gray
hydrogen user (orderer) usually purchases hydrogen (a hydrogen
supplier to which a transportation distance is as short as possible
is usually chosen but is not necessarily to be such), which
information may be saved as registration information or included in
the order, and acquires information of the cost of Gray hydrogen
and of a Green hydrogen supplier and the cost of Green hydrogen,
referring to the hydrogen management information 200. When the
order is of the form of directly specifying an amount of Gray
hydrogen and of Green hydrogen, the hydrogen trading coordination
device 100 calculates a purchase price from the order amount and
the cost of Gray hydrogen and of Green hydrogen. When the order is
of the form of changing the CO.sub.2 emission intensity, the
hydrogen trading coordination device 100 calculates the purchase
amount and purchase cost of Gray hydrogen and of Green hydrogen,
based on information on the CO.sub.2 emission intensity of the Gray
hydrogen supplier and the CO.sub.2 emission intensity of the Green
hydrogen supplier supplying Green hydrogen to mixed with Gray
hydrogen, and on information on the cost of Gray hydrogen and of
Green hydrogen. Subsequently, the hydrogen trading coordination
device 100 transmits the calculated purchase cost, information on
the Gray hydrogen supplier, information on the Green hydrogen
supplier, and information on the purchase amount of Gray hydrogen
and of Green hydrogen, to the terminal device 101_k of the hydrogen
user (orderer).
[0051] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 may execute a
process of checking the amount of Green hydrogen based on the
received order against at least one of pieces of information on the
production capacity, the shipment volume, and the shipment time of
the Green hydrogen supplier (e.g., hydrogen supplier B), who is a
trading partner, and determining whether the Green hydrogen
supplier can handle the order. When the Green hydrogen supplier
cannot handle the order, the hydrogen trading coordination device
100 may send a notice of the trading being impossible (of the order
being not processable and the reasons therefor) to the terminal
device of the hydrogen user having placed the order (the terminal
device 101_1 of the hydrogen user A). As a result, the Green
hydrogen supplier does not supply Green hydrogen. Nevertheless,
this approach allows trading practice based on an actual amount of
hydrogen that can be supplied, thus allowing prevention of illegal
acts. In addition, when a single hydrogen supplier is not able to
handle the order, the hydrogen trading coordination device 100 may
further check the production capacity and the shipment volume, and
the like of other Green hydrogen suppliers (e.g., Green hydrogen
suppliers C, D and so on) and send a message to the terminal device
of the hydrogen user, the message inquiring whether the hydrogen
user has an intention of making a trading with one or more other
hydrogen suppliers capable of handling the order. This inquiry
message allows confirming whether the hydrogen user still has an
intention of purchasing hydrogen when the purchase price turns out
to be higher than an expected purchase price.
[0052] (iii) Step 303
[0053] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 generates
purchase item data corresponding to the order and stores the
purchase item data in a storage device. The purchase item data may
include, for example, information on a purchase date, information
on the hydrogen user who is the orderer, a ratio between Gray
hydrogen and Green hydrogen, the hydrogen user's hydrogen storage
facility, the regular hydrogen supplier from which hydrogen is
usually purchased (the regular hydrogen supplier from which
hydrogen that is not a mix of different types of hydrogen is
purchased), the price to pay for the order (calculated amount of
payment), a Gray hydrogen supplier and a Green hydrogen supplier
who are written on a trading certificate based on the order (as
mentioned above, the hydrogen user is actually supplied with a
desired amount of hydrogen from a supplier from which the hydrogen
user has been purchasing hydrogen), a difference between the price
to pay for the order and an amount of payment to the hydrogen
supplier who actual supplies hydrogen, and information indicating
to which hydrogen supplier the difference should be paid in
future.
[0054] (iv) Step 304
[0055] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 pays an amount
of money calculated by trading coordination, to the regular
hydrogen supplier (e.g., the Gray hydrogen supplier A) of the
hydrogen user (e.g., the hydrogen user A), as the purchase price
(by, for example, electronic settlement), and sends an instruction
to supply the hydrogen user with hydrogen (e.g., compressed
hydrogen), to the terminal device 102_k of the regular hydrogen
supplier (hydrogen supplier A 102_1). Receiving the instruction to
supply hydrogen, the hydrogen supplier transports hydrogen (e.g.,
Gray hydrogen of 20 m.sup.3) of which the amount is equivalent to
the order amount of the hydrogen user (overall order amount sent to
the hydrogen trading coordination device 100, i.e., 20 m.sup.3), to
the orderer (hydrogen user A).
[0056] (v) Step 305
[0057] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 sends order
information to a new hydrogen supplier or a hydrogen supplier used
for hydrogen trading coordination (e.g., the Green hydrogen
supplier B) that is different from the regular hydrogen supplier
(e.g., the Gray hydrogen supplier A) the orderer has regular
business dealings with, and instructs the new hydrogen supplier or
the hydrogen supplier used for hydrogen trading coordination to
issue a trading certificate (document certifying purchase of Green
hydrogen). Following the instruction, the hydrogen supplier (e.g.,
hydrogen supplier B) creates a Green hydrogen certificate (carrying
information of a trading date, a hydrogen supplier, a hydrogen
purchaser, an amount of Green hydrogen supplied, and the like), and
sends the certificate to the hydrogen trading coordination device
100.
[0058] When a hydrogen user who usually purchases Green hydrogen
only (e.g., the hydrogen user B) decides to purchase Green hydrogen
as a part of Green hydrogen/Gray hydrogen mixture for the purpose
of increasing the economic value of hydrogen, the amount of Green
hydrogen to purchase may become smaller than the usual amount of
purchase of Green hydrogen. Nevertheless, as in the case of the
Gray hydrogen user's purchasing Green hydrogen, the Green hydrogen
supplier (the supplier the orderer (hydrogen user B) has regular
business dealings with, e.g., the hydrogen supplier B) creates a
Green hydrogen certificate by following an instruction from the
hydrogen trading coordination device 100, and sends the certificate
to the hydrogen trading coordination device 100.
[0059] (vi) Step 306
[0060] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 sends the
certificate received from the Green hydrogen supplier (hydrogen
supplier B), to the terminal device of the orderer (the terminal
device 101_1 of the hydrogen user).
[0061] (vii) Step 307
[0062] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 stores data of
a price difference resulting from the hydrogen trading, in the
storage device. The price difference data may be stored as data
associated with information on the hydrogen user (hydrogen user A)
and the hydrogen suppliers (hydrogen suppliers A and B) involved in
the trading.
[0063] (viii) Step 308
[0064] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 waits for an
order from a Green hydrogen user (e.g., the hydrogen user B) for
purchasing Gray hydrogen as a part of a Green hydrogen/Gray
hydrogen mixture. When such an order is placed (Yes at step 308),
the process flow proceeds to step 309.
[0065] (ix) Step 309
[0066] The hydrogen trading coordination device 100 processes the
received order from the Green hydrogen user (hydrogen user B), and
adjusts the price difference stored in the storage device at step
307.
[0067] It should be noted that processes to meet the Green hydrogen
user's order is reverse to processes from step 302 to step 306.
Specifically, it is said from a perspective of physical supply that
the Green hydrogen user is supplied with an ordered amount of
hydrogen from a Green hydrogen supplier (e.g., hydrogen supplier B)
from which the Green hydrogen user has been purchased hydrogen. It
is also said, however, from a perspective of trading coordination
data that the Green hydrogen user purchases Gray hydrogen from a
Gray hydrogen supplier (e.g., the hydrogen supplier A) in a given
amount and purchases Green hydrogen from the Green hydrogen
supplier (hydrogen supplier B) in an amount=order amount-Gray
hydrogen amount. In this case, a purchase price the Green hydrogen
user is to pay is lower than a purchase price for the case (normal
case) of purchasing Green hydrogen only. Meanwhile, the Green
hydrogen supplier (hydrogen supplier B) actually supplies hydrogen
larger in amount than Green hydrogen corresponding in purchase
price to the Green hydrogen user's payment to the hydrogen trading
coordination device 100 (hydrogen trading coordinator). However,
the price for a surpass portion of hydrogen supplied will be
compensated by a price difference resulting from a different
hydrogen trading. In this case, because the Gray hydrogen supplier
(hydrogen supplier A) actually supplies no Gray hydrogen to the
Green hydrogen user (hydrogen user B), the Gray hydrogen supplier
is not paid for the order made in this trading. However, as
described above, the Gray hydrogen supplier too is compensated for
a surpass portion of hydrogen supply made in a past hydrogen
trading with a price difference resulting from a different
trading.
[0068] Adjustment of the price difference is made, for example, in
a certain period (e.g., one year) such that none of the hydrogen
suppliers suffers any loss.
SUMMARY
[0069] (i) In the present embodiment, Gray hydrogen (first type
fuel) and Green hydrogen (second type fuel) are fuels that are
different in production method but can be used for the same
purpose. The hydrogen (fuel) trading coordination device sends
order information received from the terminal device of a Gray
hydrogen user, to a Gray hydrogen supplier (the first supplier who
supplies the first type fuel) and to a Green hydrogen supplier (the
second supplier that supplies the second type fuel). Through this
process, when the Gray hydrogen user places an order for purchasing
a mix of Gray hydrogen and Green hydrogen (the total purchase price
is the sum of the price of Gray hydrogen and the price of Green
hydrogen), the Gray hydrogen user is able to receive the whole
amount of hydrogen ordered from the Gray hydrogen supplier while
making a pseudo transaction of receiving hydrogen supply from the
Green hydrogen supplier.
[0070] In this case, the hydrogen trading coordination device sends
a payment (price) based on the amount of supply of Gray hydrogen
corresponding to the order, to the first supplier, and instructs
the first supplier to supply Gray hydrogen in the amount
corresponding to the total amount of hydrogen specified in the
order, that is, the sum of Gray hydrogen and Green hydrogen. This
allows the Gray hydrogen user to receive supply of Green hydrogen
in a pseudo transaction without a need of changing a hydrogen
storage facility the Gray hydrogen user has been using (no burden
of facility remodeling).
[0071] Meanwhile, the hydrogen trading coordination device
instructs the second supplier to issue a certificate certifying
that the second supplier has supplied Green hydrogen, and sends
data of the issued certificate to the terminal device of the Gray
hydrogen user having placed the order. The data of the certificate
can be used for the CO.sub.2 emission right trading in the future
by the Gray hydrogen user.
[0072] In addition, the hydrogen trading coordination device
processes orders from users of various types of hydrogen, and
stores information on past orders from a plurality of Gray hydrogen
users and on past orders from a plurality of Green hydrogen users,
in a storage device. By managing such past order information, an
amount of hydrogen available to each user can be determined
(estimated) from order-placing histories. This allows the hydrogen
trading coordination device to take a specific measure, such as
making inquiries to hydrogen suppliers, when dealing with an order
for hydrogen of which the amount exceeds an estimated order amount,
thus allowing prevention of illegal acts.
[0073] The storage device of the hydrogen trading coordination
device stores information on a plurality of fuel suppliers, the
information including information of a production method for
hydrogen, a production capacity for the hydrogen, and the form of
transportation of the hydrogen, information of the CO.sub.2
emission intensity of the hydrogen, information of the sales price
of the hydrogen, information of a shipment volume, and information
on a shipment time. The hydrogen trading coordination device checks
the amount of Green hydrogen based on the order against information
of shipment volumes and shipment times of a plurality of hydrogen
suppliers, determines whether hydrogen can be shipped out to meet
the order, and when hydrogen cannot be shipped out, sends a notice
of meeting the order being impossible, to the terminal device of
the Gray hydrogen user having placed the order. This process
prevents conduct of an illegal act in pseudo Green hydrogen trading
transactions.
[0074] When the order from the Gray hydrogen user is of the form of
intending to reduce a CO.sub.2 emission intensity value to a
desired value, the hydrogen trading coordination device calculates
an order amount of Gray hydrogen and of Green hydrogen, based on
the desired CO.sub.2 emission intensity value, and sends order
information including information of the order amounts, to the
first supplier and to the second supplier. This allows the hydrogen
user to place an order without specifying an amount of each type of
hydrogen, thus reducing burden on the hydrogen user. That said, the
order may be placed in the form of specifying a purchase amount of
Gray hydrogen and of Green hydrogen. In such a case, the hydrogen
trading coordination device sends the order information including
information on the purchase amount of Gray hydrogen and of Green
hydrogen, to the first supplier and to the second supplier. This
reduces a calculation load on the hydrogen trading coordination
device.
[0075] (ii) The functions of this embodiment can be implemented by
a software program code. In this case, a storage medium recording
the program code therein is incorporated in a system or a device,
and a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or the device reads
the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the
program code itself, which is read out of the storage medium,
implements the above functions of the embodiments, and the program
code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the
present disclosure. Various storage media for supplying such a
program code are used, which include, for example, a flexible disk,
a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk, an optical disk, a
magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory
card, and a ROM.
[0076] In another case, an operating system (OS) or the like
running on a computer may execute a part or the whole of an actual
process, based on an instruction from the program code, to
implement the above functions of the embodiments through the
process. In still another case, after the program code read out of
the storage medium is written to a memory on the computer, the CPU
or the like of the computer may execute a part or the whole of the
actual process, based on an instruction from the program code, to
implement the above functions of the embodiments through the
process.
[0077] Furthermore, the software program code that implements the
functions of the embodiment may be distributed via a network to
store the program code in a storage means, such as a hard disk or a
memory of the system or the device, or in a storage medium, such as
a CD-RW or a CD-R, so that when the program code is used, the
computer (or the CPU or MPU) of the system or the device reads the
program code out of the storage means or the storage medium to
execute the program code.
[0078] In the above embodiment, a group of control lines/data lines
considered to be necessary for description are illustrated, and all
control lines/information lines making up the product are not
always illustrated. All constituent elements may be
interconnected.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0079] 10 hydrogen trading coordination system [0080] 100 hydrogen
trading coordination device [0081] 101_1 to 101_n terminal devices
of hydrogen users A to Z [0082] 102_1 to 102_n terminal devices of
hydrogen suppliers A to Z [0083] 103 network [0084] 200 hydrogen
management information [0085] 201 hydrogen type [0086] 202 hydrogen
production method [0087] 203 hydrogen transportation method [0088]
204 CO.sub.2 emission intensity [0089] 205 cost
* * * * *